Combination lock



6, 1931. H. BECK 1,826,235

COMBINATION LOCK Filed March 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet I 1 Oct. 6, 1931. H.BECK 1,8265'235 coMBINA'rIoN LocK Filed March 9. 1929 2 .Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Oct. 6, 1931 narran stares HEINRICH BECK, GF VENNA, AUSTRIACOMBNATIQN LOCK Application filed March 9, 1929, Serial No. 345,871, andin Austria March 13, 1928.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in combination locks,particularly for locking the steering pillar ot motor vehicles.

lt is already known to lock the steering pillar of motor vehicles bymeans ot a. combination lock, in which adjustable bolting members (torinstance character or numeral rings) concentrically enclose the steeringpillar. However the known combination locks l@ ot this character'posseses two drawbacks.

They are very bulky and therefore orn clumsy appearance, because theinner diameter ot the character rings has to correspond to the outerdiameter of the steering pillar, and is ini-ther the number set by thecharacter rings cannot be read otil comfortably, because the individualfigures ot the set number are arranged parallel to the axis oi thesteering pillar.

The drawbacks above mentioned are not present in the combinationV lockaccording to the present invention, in which the casing of the lock,enclosing the steering pillar, is provided with a lateral extension, theparts ot the combination device being located in the latter and the boltfor locking the steering pillar canbe shifted in the said extensiontowards or away from theV said pillar and can be fixed in position bythe combination device.

The casing or the lock enclosingthe steering pillar is not provided withany parts oit the combination device and therefore is ot suiicientthickness only tov withstand any strain or stress. rEhe inner diameterot the character rings located in the extension oit the casing isdetermined by the diameter oi the locking bolt, which of course isconsiderably smaller than the diameter ot the steering pillar.

rPhe character rings are arranged to form a horizontal cylinder providedon the outer surface with the signs (figures or letters) so as towarrant a comfortable reading ot t1 il@ adj usted number or name, whichappear also in a horizontal row.

Several modes of carrying out the present invention areA illustrated byway of example on the accompanying sheets of drawings in which* Figs. land 2 show in part-sectional elevation and side view respectively oneembodiment or" the invention.

Fig. 8 is a detail View.

lig. l is a view ot the locking bolt.

Fig. 5 is a modiied construction of the locking bolt.

Figs. 6 and illustrate a supplementary device for operating the ignitiondevice.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views.

Figs. 10 and ll show parts' for fitting the lock to steering pillarsorcdifferent sizev or construction.

The casing l of the lock is provided with a cylindric bore 2 in order tobe itted to the steering pillar, consisting of the immovable shell M andthe rotatableshatt S. The casf ing l terminates in a trame-like lateralextension 3, the bore or hole of the latter eX- tending transversely tothe steering pillar and serves for the reception ot the lockingmechanism, which consists of a locking bolt and a combination device. il

As stated, the locking mechanism consists of the locking bolt 5, whichis provided with tour notches or grooves 7, shaped according to theshape of locking balls 6, and which is furnished with a slot 8 at itsright hand end, terminating in a bore 9. The inner end of a compressionspring 10, arranged in the said bore, rests on the bottom taceot1 thelatter, while the outerend of the said spring rests on a member 11sliding in the slot 8. The sliding member 11 is provided with twoscrew-threaded teeth 11a and by the action of the sprino` l() is pressedonto the pin l2, riveted to and bridging the slot in the bolt 5.

The locking bolt v5 lits exactly into a sleeve 13, carrying the lockingballs 6,.and is secured against axial movement by a pin 14. The steppedend 13a of the locking ball sleeve 13 (Fig. 3) is provided with twoslots 15, which are arranged diametrically opposite each other and areengaged by the screwthreaded teeth 11n of the sliding member 11, thesaid teeth being guided in the said slots 15. A bush 20, provided withan automatically locking inner screw-thread 21, is arranged on thestepped end 13a of the sleeve. The screw-thread 2l is engaged by theteeth 11 Cil ot the slide 11, so that the latter axially shit'ted it thebush 20 is rotated b y operating the screw-cap 22. The character 22designates a plug screwed into the screw-threaded bore of the screw-cap22.

The inner end ol' the bush 2O is provided with a flange B, resting withits right-hand. face against the casing 3, while the left-hand facethereof is furnished with ribs r (Fig. 9) and rests on the coupling ringIt ot' the cover K. The ring It is provided with two slits and thus twotongues e are formed, which are bent towards the front 'face ot the bushand are engaged by the ribs 7" of the flange R lor the purposehereinafter described.

The bolt 5 is provided with a separate notch 7, which can be engaged bya springloaded ball 25 in order to arrest the bolt 5 independently fromthe locking mechanism it the bolt is in the open position. Thereby thelocking bolt cannot be moved into the locking position by an unintendedrotation ot the adjusting member (for instance by accidently touchingthe same or by shocks), it' the character rings 2G are accidently set inthe correct positions tor opening.

The slide Il and spring l0 are arranged ior the following object If thecharacter yrings 2G are set in the correct positions for opening and thebush 2O is turned in the correspondiiigdirection by means of ythescrew-'cap 22, the teeth lla entlie thread 21 and axially move towardsthe lett side the slide l1 and, by means of the spring l0, the bolt 5into the locking position, it the bore or hole, provided in the steeringpillar for the admission of the bolt, is located in the position shownin Fig. l. However if the locking bolt faces the solid part of the shellot the steering pillar, only the slide l1 will be pushed to the lett bythe action ot the spring l() and the locking bolt jumps 'forward andengages the hole of the steering pillar only after the rotation ot' thelatter.

As shown in Figs. l, Q, and 4 the locking bolt 5 is provided with Vtournotches or grooves 7, while only two locking balls 6 are arranged in thesleeve 13. In view of this arrangement, the boltI 5 is locked in theposition locking the steering pillar it the two balls engage the secondand fourth notches (Fig. r2), while the bolt 5 is locked in thedisengaged position it the same balls engage the first and thirdnotches.

In the construction ot the bolt shown in Fi 4, the locking balls engagethe bolt only but do not operate the slide. In the modilication shown inFig. 5, one ot the slides 1l is extended and forms the rest for theengagement by the locking balls and' is subjected to the action of thecompression spring 10. In this case the bolt can be moved with respectto 'the slide even in case the lock is locked. The character 7bdesignates another notch or groove in the bolt, which may be provided inplace of the bolt-lock formed by the notch 7a and the ball 25. A bolt 27engages the notch 7" and is rotatably mounted in a bore ot' the casingot the lock. One end ot this bolt is provided with an operating handles28, while the other end thereof carries a device Z, operating theignition dcvice. The handle 28 is disposed in the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 7, it the bolt 5 is in the position locking thesteering pillar as shown in Fig. l. In this position the circular partof the locking bolt 5 engages the depression 27 ot the bolt Q7 and thuslocks the same in the position illustrated in dotted lines, g-

so that the ignition is interrupted. The ignition can be switched ononly after the bolt 5 is unlocked and has been moved into the openposition, so that its notch 7b coincides with the bolt QT. By means ofthe handle 28, the latter can be turned into the position shown in full.lines in Fig. 7, whereby the ignition is switched on. In this positionthe bolt 27 engagesthe notch 7h of the locking bolt 5 and thus locks thesame, e. g. the latter can be n moved into the position locking thesteering pillar only in case the bolt 27 has been previously turned tosuch an extent, that its depression 27 releases the bolt 5. In Viewthereoi, that the handle Q8 located in front of the numeral ring windowof the loclo casing in the position iny which the ignition is switchedon, it is impossible to rotate the numeral rings, particularly it thehandle 28 is ot suitable width. The said rings can be operated onlyafter the handle 28 has been turned into the position shown in dottedlilies in Fig. 7

It the steering pillar ot a motor vehicle consists ot' a single tube orit its outside tube is not suiiiciently secured against rotation, asleeve 43 is pushed onto the steering pillar (Fig. l0) the said sleevebeing provided with an arm 44 and by means of rivets 45 is secured tothe vehicle (dash board). The lock is pushed over the sleeve 43 and thesteering pillar is locked in that the locking bolt 5 passes through ahole 46 ot the sleeve.

The two extreme positions ot the loclfing bolt 5 are determined. by theinner end oi: the slot l5 oi? the sleeve 13 and by the inner face of thescrew-cap 22. The bolt- 5 is ofi such a length, that in its right-handextreme position it does not engage the shaft S but still extends intothe bore m of the immovable tube IVI or into the sleeve 43 in thearrangement according to Fig. l0.

A bush 50 (Fig. l1), slotted at 5l andy and provided with a hole 53 'forthe reception of the locking-bolt 5 which secures the bush in the casingof the lock, serves for adapting the lock to steering pillars otdifferent diameters.

The lock is used in the 'following manner f The steering wheel isremoved, the character rings are set in the position of opening, thescrew-plug 222L is removed and the locking bolt 5 is moved as far aspossible to the right by turning the cap 22. Now the lock is pushed onto the shell (or sleeve) of the ysteering' pillar until the locking bolt5 is disposed in front of the bore m of the shell M. The lock is fixedto the shell M (Fig. l) or sleeve 43 (Fig. 10) by tightening the screw3l (Fig. l) and by turning the screw-cap 22 in the opposite direction,so that the locking bolt engages the steering pillar. Finally thescrew-plug 22a is again applied and the character rings are rotated soas not to disclose the combination for opening the lock, and now thesteering pillar is locked.

In order to unlock the steering pillar, the Character rings are set intothe-position for releasing the bolt 5 and the cap 22 is rotated as taras possible. Thereby the locking bolt is moved into its extreme positionat the right hand side in which position the said bolt has released theshaft S of the steering pillar but still engages the bore of the shellM.

At the same time the bush 20, connected with the screw-cap 22, operatesthe cover K by means oi the front 'face provided with ribs 7- and bymeans of the teeth a, so that the cover K hides the view (the setunlocking combination). The cover K can be turned also without the aidof the screw-cap 22 by getting hold oi the projecting rim lo, wherebythe spring-tongues e slide over 'the ribs r of the bush 20 in order toallow the character rings to be set also in case the lock is unlockedand thus secure the latter against unauthorized locking. It the lock islocked the clear view over the character rings can be obtained again byturning the handle in the opposite direction, so that the rings can begrasped and rotated.

In the case of a locked combination lock, if it is intended to open thelock by simultaneously operating the cap 22 and the character rings(locking mechanism), the bush 2O will be subjected to an equivalentback-pressure by the slide of the locking bolt 5 engaging the slot ofthe bush and lthe latter transmits the said pressure to the set ofcharacter rings, which are pressed together and* thus are securedagainst adjustment. For 'this object the bush 20 and the screw-cap 22are arranged in the casing with some play in the axial direc-tion, sothat they may rest directly against the character rings.

However in order to attain this object it is necessary that theoperating member of the locking bolt (e. g. the bush 20.) is arranged atthe outer end of the locking bolt.

The combination lock can be taken to pieces only after the withdrawal ofthe bolt (through the opening of the plug 22a) and if the sleeve 13 hasbeen pushed to the left (into the bore 2 of the lock-casing). Thus thelock can be taken to pieces only after the bore 2 is given free byremoving the lock from the steering pillar. The Combination lock cannotbe Ataken to pieces as long as the lock is mounted on the steeringpillar.

Between two adjacent figures each character ring is provided withnotches 29 adapted to be engaged by preferably spring-loaded lockingballs 30 or the like for securing vthe said rings in the adjustedposition. One of these notches 25) (Fig. 2) is arranged onesided 0n eachcharacter ring between like figures in such a manner, that the characterrings can be rotated in one direction of rotation only until thecorresponding locking balls engage this notch, in order to providecorresponding initial positions of all character rings for setting thesame in the darkness.l

As shown in F l and 2, the casing l of the lock is slotted at 3l and 32in two planes, which preferably are disposed at a right angle to oneanother, and is provided' with ears 33, so that the casing is renderedresilient and by means oi' the screw 34.-, passed through holes of theears, can be clamped to the steering pillar. y

I claiml. A combination lock for locking the steering pillar of motorvehicles, comprising in combination a casing provided with abore for thesteering pillar, a lateral extension on the said casing, a combina-tiondevice arranged in the said extension, aslocking bolt axially slidablein the said extension transversely to f the steering pillar andcooperating with the said combination device and a. rotatable butaxially immovable bush with a self locking inner screw thread engaging acorresponding screw thread of an axially slidable member operating theaxial movement ot' the locking bolt.

2. Al combination lock for locking the steering pillar of motorvehicles` comprising in combinati on a casing provided with a. bore forthe steering pillar, a lateral extension on the said casing, acombination device arranged in 'the said extension, a locking boltaxially slidable in the said extension transversely to the steeringpillar and cooperating .v

with the said combination device, a rotatable but axially immovable bushwith a self loclfing Yinner screw thread engaging a corresponding screwthread of an axially slidable member operating the axial movement of thelocking bolt and a cap operated bythe said operating member to cover upthe combination device in the unlocking position.

3. A combination lock for locking the steering pillar of motor vehicles,comprising in combination a casing provided with a4 bore for thesteering pillar, a lateral extension yon the said casing, a combinationdevice arranged in the said extension, a locking bolt axially slidablein the said extension transrio versely to the steering pillar andcooperating with the said combination device, a rotatable but axiallyimmovable bush with a self lockinginnerscrew thread engaging acorresponding` screw thread of an axially slidable member ope ating theaxial movement of the locking bolt, a cap operated b y the saidoperating member to cover up the combination device in the unlockingposition and a ratchet couplingbetween the member operating the lockingbolt and the ca p in order to rotate the latter also independentfrom thesaid operating member.

Ll. A combination lock tor locking the steering pillar of motorvehicles, comprising in combination a casing provided with a bore torthe steering pillar, a lateral extension on the said casing, a.combination device arranged in the said extension, and a locking boltslidably arranged in the said extension transvers ly to the steeringpillar and cooperating with the said combination device, a slot in thelocking' bolt, a spring arranged in the said slot, and a slide locatedin the said slot, for the purpose specilied.

A combination lock tor locking the steering pillar ot motor vehicles,comprising in combination a casing provided with a bore 'tor thesteering` pillar, a lateral extension on the said casing, a combinationdevice arranged in the said extension, and a locking bolt slidablyarranged in the said extension transversely to the steering pillar andcooperating with the said coii'ibination device, a slot in the lockingbolt, a spring arranged in the said slot, a slide located in the latter,and an automatically obstructing member coop- @rating with the saidslide, for the purpose specified.

G. A combination look for locking the steering pillar of motor vehicles,comprising in combination aV casing provided with a bore vor thesteering pillar, a lateral extension on the said casing, a combinationdevice arranged in the said extension, and a. locking` bolt slidablyarr: nged in the said extension transversely to the steering pillar andcooperating with the said combination device, a slotl in the lockingbolt, a spring arranged in the said slot, a slide located in the latter,an automatically obstructing member cooperating with the said slide,notches in the locking bolt, and locking members cooperating with thesaid notches, the number ot notches exceeding the number of lockingmembers, for the purpose specilied.

'7. A combination lock 'lor locking` the steering pillar of motorvehicles, comprising in combination a casing provided with bore for thesteering pillar, alateral extension on the said casing, a combinationdevice arrai'iged in the said extension, and a locking` bolt slidablyarranged in the said extension transversely to the steering pillar andcooperating with the said combination device, a slot in the lockingbolt, a spring arranged in the said slot, a slide located in the latter,and an additional locking means on the locking bolt securing the latterin the unlocked position independently 'from the lock-mechanism, for thepurpose specilied.

8. A combination lock tor locking the steering pillar of motor vehicles,comprising in con'ibination a casing provided with a` bore for thesteering pillar, a lateral extension on the said casing, a combinationdevice arranged in the said extension, and a kicking bolt slidablyarranged in the said extension tansversely to the steering pillar andcooperatingr with the said con'ibination device, a slot in the lockingbolt, a spring arranged in the said slot, slide located in the latter',and an additional locking means on the locking bolt .securing the latterin the unlocked position independently 'from the lock-mechanism and'interru)tingl the circuit of the ignition device provided for theinternal combustion engine of the motor vehicle if the bolt locks thesteering pillar.

HEINRICH BECK.

